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"And then Jenkins—"
"Fuck Jenkins. He needs me more than you realize, Aelia. You said you have access to the numbers. Tell me, when was the last influx of money besides mine? How much cash are they hemorrhaging? They can't sustain themselves without more. I'm keeping them afloat for now, but eventually, the funds will dry up and—"
"And they'll just move to another city and start again. This isn't the first time, Dante. Sure, they took a hit when they were pushed out of Synd, but it wasn't enough to tank the organization. There's so much you don't know."
"Then tell me. Help me understand," I plead.
"I can't," she whispers.
Her dull eyes find mine and her lids droop. She's too tired to have this conversation.
"Let's get you to bed. We can talk after you sleep."
"What time is it?" she asks as I pull her to her feet.
"Just after midnight."
I set her on the bed, then go to the closet and gather some clothes for her. When I come back, I'm pretty sure she's asleep. As I slide underwear up her legs, I brush the bruises. They run all the way up her thighs as if he beat her with a pipe. Sitting her up, she sags against me, mumbling under her breath. My shirt hangs off her shoulders, practically drowning her, and I wonder how much they feed her. Probably as little as possible. Though based on the conditions in the Pit, it's probably better than they get down there.
"Why'd you come for me?" she asks as I tuck the covers under her chin.
Smoothing back the strands of hair sticking to her forehead, I wait for her eyes to open, but they stay closed. I grab the pillows, placing them down the middle of the bed. She mutters again and I lean in close.She's whispering why over and over again. I sigh, the ache in my chest pulsing.
"Because I couldn't leave you," I say.
I retreat to the closet to change, leaving my wet boxers in the corner. I should deal with my clothes, but I don't want her waking up alone again. The desire for vengeance courses through my veins, urging me to go back and finish the job. Grant can wait a few more hours. I wonder if I could convince Jenkins to let me torture him slowly. Maybe I'll put him in the same room he locked Aelia in. Recreating his treatment of her would be appropriate.
Moonlight scatters across the floor, illuminating the room. I leave the curtains open, hoping she'll wake up with the sun warming her skin. It's been too long since she's felt anything other than pain. She deserves more—more than I can give her.
Settling on my side of the pillow dam, I watch her chest rise and fall with each breath. With Jag outside, I'm not afraid of someone coming for her, but for some reason, the fear of her not making it through the night rides me hard. I expect I'll be awake long into the night, waiting for the next disaster to strike. With how things have been going, this quiet won't last long.
Twenty
Aelia
Pulling the curtains across the windows, I cut off the rays of the setting sun. I woke up just in time to watch the edge of the glowing ball kiss the horizon. I'd love to sit in the warmth and relish its descent to the other side of the planet, but it was too bright in the room. Dante is sprawled across the bed, pillows flung everywhere. Shadows dance across his face as the fabric settles, and I sigh.
My dreams were filled with shadows stalking me through the dark. Then Dante would show up and he'd eventually chase me instead. Just as I was waking, the dream morphed to him falling to his knees, begging for something. As he dissolved, I made up my mind.
My stomach rumbles, and I press a hand against the shirt I don't remember putting on. I blush, remembering how out of it I was. Carrying on a coherent conversation with Dante was a struggle. I couldn't figure out how to feel, much less how to explain to him what I wanted to know. The only thing that stands out is that he begged me to help him. Again. It merely solidified why he's set on keeping me around.
I don't think he'd leave me to a terrible fate. He's good and decent at his core, even if his methods are sometimes on the rough side. His motives for not seeking out another woman, though, are clear. I have information no one else can give him. When he wakes up, I'll tell him.
Revealing everything I've learned over the years won't hurt. If he asks for more...I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. He doesn't understand the roadblocks in the way. Even if I wanted to risk fucking with the Guild's accounts, I doubt I can. There are so many safeguards in place for this exact reason, I'd be surprised if I could break through them. I'm no hacker or computer genius. Maybe Dante should find one of those to align with instead.
"Aelia?" Dante calls, and I meet his eyes.
I swallow hard, wrapping my arms around my waist. "Hi."
It's all I can manage. Last night was horrifying. I threw up on him, for fuck's sake. Add in all the other shit I said, and I blush again.
"What time is it?" he asks, voice still groggy from sleep.
"I don't know. The sun is setting, though." I gesture to the closed window.
"What happened to the trench?" He props himself on his elbow, swinging his head back and forth.
I try to follow his gaze, but he seems out of it. "Are you still sleeping?"
